LCSW, 17 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello, I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Wisconsin. You have demonstrated a lot of courage by reaching out for help. I am here to offer you a safe space where you can feel heard. I approach psychotherapy using a trauma-informed perspective which means your struggles are understandable based on your life experiences and we can work together to find effective ways to achieve your goals. I am committed to providing empathic and compassionate care so you feel comfortable and free to explore personal change.
I will prioritize our therapeutic relationship and work in partnership with you to develop treatment goals that are meaningful to you. During our first session, we will begin to build our relationship and discuss any questions or concerns you may have about therapy. Next, our goal will be to gain a mutual understanding of what you would like to gain from therapy and work together to develop a treatment plan.
I find meaning and purpose in helping others impacted by trauma, mental illness, and other mental health issues. My passion is to foster empowerment and healing so clients can achieve lives worth living.
My training includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and DBT Prolonged Exposure trauma therapy. I often include other therapeutic approaches to best meet the individualized needs of the clients I work with. Since 2008, I have specialized in working with clients who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder.
DBT provides a non-judgmental and supportive space to explore your feelings, fears, and struggles. DBT strategies are effective in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, feelings of shame or emptiness, impulsive or risky behaviors, unstable or frequent loss of relationships, self-injury, trauma, and PTSD.
The fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response is a natural human reaction to perceived threat or danger. When trauma happens, our threat system takes over in order to keep us safe. After trauma, if we avoid our thoughts, feelings, and memories or are unable to talk about them with someone we trust, our threat system can stay stuck and lead to trauma symptoms. Many trauma survivors struggle with bad dreams and memories, experience strong emotional reactions such as irritability, anger, fear, or numbness, endure strong physical symptoms such as trouble breathing, sweating, or heart pounding, experience self-blame and negative beliefs about the world, distrust other people, feel distant from those they love and experience difficulties in their relationships, are constantly aware and watchful of their surroundings, and have difficulty sleeping. DBT Prolonged Exposure trauma therapy offers the opportunity to quiet your threat system, reduce or even eliminate symptoms, and just feel better in your own skin. It is possible to face your fears and heal.